Cantilevered support for acoustic device

ABSTRACT

Cantilevered apparatus for supporting an acoustic device such as a microphone or video camera in any desired position comprising boom arms, counterbalance arms, and springs, wherein the springs are flocked and the apparatus can be moved without causing acoustic vibrations. A method of reducing the sound vibrations in a cantilevered apparatus for supporting an acoustic device comprises using flocked springs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of adjustable counterbalanced support apparatus for acoustic devices.

[0002] Adjustable counterbalanced support apparatus are very commonly used to support acoustic devices such as microphones and video cameras, and other devices wherein a user may easily move the device to a different position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,061 illustrates such conventional apparatus. In most cases the apparatus is counterbalanced with coil springs combined with a combination of counterbalance arms, pairs of plates, and other elements. In conventional adjustable counterbalanced support apparatus of this type, the movement from one position to another can cause a small amount of vibration or noise.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cantilevered, counterbalanced apparatus for supporting acoustic devices which can be moved from one position to another without causing any vibration or noise which may be picked up by the acoustic device. Another object is to provide cantilevered, spring counterbalanced apparatus for supporting acoustic devices, wherein the springs are color coordinated with the other elements of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] These objects, and others which will become apparent from the following detailed description, are achieved by the present invention which comprises in one aspect an apparatus for supporting an acoustic device comprising a base means to engage a support structure, an acoustic device engagement support, counterbalancing to maintain the acoustic device in any desired position comprising boom arms, counterbalance arms, and flocked springs. The flocked springs are preferably coil springs, and are preferably flocked with fiber which is color coordinated with the other parts of the apparatus.

[0005] Preferably the apparatus comprises lower, middle, and upper pairs of plates, a lower boom, an upper boom, and lower and upper counterbalance arms.

[0006] The acoustic device can be a microphone, a video camera, or any other acoustic device which can be mounted on a cantilevered apparatus which is easily moveable between first and subsequent positions without the need to take any step to secure the new position. In other words, the cantilevered, counterbalanced apparatus automatically maintains the wired device in a new position after it is moved by the user.

[0007] In another aspect, the invention comprises a method of supporting an acoustic device in an adjustable, counterbalanced position comprising providing the aforementioned cantilevered apparatus having flocked springs which reduce the level of extraneous noise due to moving the acoustic device to a new position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a right side perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a breakaway front view of a lower portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a breakaway front view of the center section of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flocked counterbalance spring used in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] The preferred embodiments will be illustrated with reference to the drawings. Various other embodiments should become readily apparent from this description to those skilled in this art.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings showing the left side, and FIG. 2 showing the right side, there is shown an embodiment of the boom assembly 10 having a Delrin® acetal resin bushing 11 on a boom pivot 12. The busing 11 is adapted to fit in a female fixture in a stationary structure such as a desk (portion shown) and the pivot 12 rotates 360 degrees within the fixture. The boom pivot 12 is held with pins between lower left plate 13 and lower right plate 14, which are in turn held in a fixed spaced parallel relationship by means of threaded fasteners 15 and 17, using spacers 18 (FIG. 3). Washers 16 (FIG. 3) are used on the threaded fasteners 15 and 17.

[0015] Referring again to FIG. 3, a lower right spring mounting post 19 is fastened to lower right plate 14, and lower left spring mounting post 20 is fastened to lower left plate 13.

[0016] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, left lower counterbalance arm 21 and right lower counterbalance arm 22 are fastened to lower left plate 13 and lower right plate 14, respectively, and left middle joint plate 26 and right middle joint plate 27, respectively. A mid lower spacer 24 (FIG. 3) which functions as a spring contact member is fastened by means of a threaded member 28 (FIG. 3) between the left lower counterbalance arm 21 and right lower counterbalance arm 22 (FIG. 2).

[0017] An extruded aluminum lower boom 25 having a U-shaped cable routing channel 50 (FIG. 3) is fastened with pins between the lower plates 13 and 14 and the middle joint plates 26 and 27. An extruded aluminum top upper boom 36 having U-shaped cable routing channel 50 is fastened with pins between the middle joint plates 26 and 27, and the top right plate 39 and top left plate 38. An upper counterbalance arm 37, also of extruded aluminum, is mounted between top upper plates 38 and 39 by means of pins, and between middle joint plates 26 and 27 by means of a threaded fastener. An additional threaded member 28 holds the middle joint plates 26 and 27 in a fixed spaced relationship using spacer-stop member 30 which also functions to limit the rotation of the top upper boom 36 and upper counterbalance arm 37 in the vertical axis A center threaded spring mounting post 31 is through the upper counterbalance arm 37.

[0018] Upper left flocked spring 32 and upper right flocked spring 33 provide tension between the upper counterbalance arm 37 and center threaded mounting posts 31. Lower left flocked spring 34 and lower right flocked spring 35 provide tension between mid lower spacer-spring contact member 24 and lower spring mounting posts 19 and 20.

[0019] Two upper joint pins 40 and 41 hold the upper counterbalance arm 37 and top upper boom 36 between top left plate 38 and top right plate 39. Microphone mount pivot pins 42 allow microphone mount insulators 43, holding threaded microphone mount 44, to pivot in a vertical axis. A microphone, not shown, can be mounted on the threaded microphone mount. A standard microphone cable 48 is easily and quickly inserted in the U-shaped channel in the top upper boom 39 and lower boom 25. The cable 48 has standard connectors 49 at the ends.

[0020] In a test which was designed to exaggerate the amount of undesired sound which is due to spring vibration when the boom is moved from one location to another, a boom which was first set up with flocked springs and then set up with unflocked springs. The springs were twanged and the audible level and duration of sound were measured. The audible level from the flocked springs was 50% lower than from the unflocked springs, and the duration of sound was also 50% lower with the flocked springs versus the unflocked springs.

[0021] While the invention and preferred embodiments have been described and illustrated in sufficient detail that those skilled in this art may readily make and use the invention, various alternatives, modifications, and improvements should become readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for supporting an acoustic device comprising a base means to engage a support structure, boom arms, counterbalance arms, and springs, wherein the springs are flocked.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the acoustic device is selected from the group consisting of a microphone and a video camera.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flocked springs are coil springs.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the counterbalancing means comprises lower plates, middle joint plates, top plates, a lower boom, an upper boom, lower and counterbalance arms, lower and upper counterbalance flocked springs.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the position of the device can be changed in any direction and automatically counterbalanced in a new position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the audible level and duration of sound contributed by the springs is nil.
 8. Method of supporting a wired device in an adjustable, counterbalanced position comprising providing the a cantilevered apparatus according to claim 1, wherein undesired sound is dampened by the flocked springs. 